Bulb-stretching machine



July 13, 1954 c, E L v 2,683,331

BULB-STRETCHING MACHINE Filed June 4, 1952 IN V EN TOR- C6 A44 4- 67.. :1

Patented July 13, 1954 BULB-STRETCHING MACHINE Charles Eisler, South Orange, N. J.

Application June 4, 1952, Serial N 0. 291,679

This invention relates to improvements in a machine for stretching bulbs and is adapted for use in connection with bulb-forming mechanisms having a plurality of stations, such as, for example, the type wherein the bulbs are advanced from station to station.

Pursuant to the present invention, hereinafter more particularly described and shown in the accompanying drawings, a bulb-stretching machine is provided having novel means for the stretching of bulbs to conform to predetermined final dimensions.

These and other advantageous objects, which will appear from the drawings and from the description hereinafter, are accomplished by the structure of my invention, of which certain embodiments are illustrated in the drawings. It will be apparent, from a consideration of said drawings and the following description, that the invention may be embodied in otherforms suggested thereby; such other forms as come within the scope of the appended claims are to be considered within the scope and purview of the instant invention.

In the drawings:'

Fig. 1 is a vertical elevational view, partly sectional, of a bulb-stretching machine embodying the invention, with the bulb to be stretched positioned therein.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the supporting arm portion of said machine.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of the invention showing the spreader bars moved apart in the bulb-stretching operation.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one form of said spreader bars which may be used in carrying out the invention,

Fig. 5 is an end elevational view of the casing and spreader bar portions of the machine of this invention and,

Fig. 6 is a. transverse sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 3 of the bulb only stretched pursuant to the invention.

The invention is adapted for use in connection with bulb-forming machines such as, for example, are shown in my Patents Nos. 2,421,929 of June 10, 194.7, and 2,418,763 of April 8, 1947, having a plurality of heads or stations, as, for example, stations A to H of the machine shown in the last mentioned patent, and provided with suitable burners, as, for example, the burners 28 of the last mentioned patent, for the purpose of softening the glass bulbs during the cycles of rotation thereof. The drawings of the present application illustrate a station which may be 3 Claims. (01. 49-22) one of a number of such stations in a machine of the class above described.

The sprocket lil of the drawings of this application may be considered to correspond with the sprocket 41 of the drawings of my Patent 2,447,569 of August 24, 1948, and driven by suitable means such as indicated at 40 in said patent or with driver 36 and driven member 3% of my Patent 2,409,423 of October 15, 1946. The plunger II of the mechanism of the present invention is adapted to be reciprocated by any means suitable for that purpose, as, for example, by juxtaposing the lower end of the plunger on a cam track [2 which may be considered to correspond with cam track 58 in my Patent 2,447,569 of August 24, 1948, the arrangement of the cam track being such that it will be higher at certain stations of the machine than at others so as to efiect reciprocation of the plunger I l at the desired stations and for the purpose of the present invention.

As shown in the drawings of this application, bulb l3, which is to be stretched from the initial form thereof shown in Fig. 2 to a diiTerent cross section such as that shown at 41 in Fig. 6 pursuant to the invention is pendently supported on a standard M which may be secured to the casing I5, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, or to a fixture [6, as shown in Fig. 3, independent of the sprocket It and secured to a different part of the mechanism in association with which the invention is used, as, for example, a fixture such as that shown at 44 in Fig. 3 of my Patent No. 2,553,135 of May 15, 1951. An elongated tube I1 is secured to sprocket I 0 and provided with an aperture 18 therethrough wherein the plunger is adapted to vertically reciprocate, as indicated by arrow I9 of Fig. 3, responsive to a means such as cam track I2 engaging the end of the plunger I I which projects from the lower end of the tube ll. Plunger H is provided at its upper end with a head 20 which projects into the transverse opening 25 in the casing IS, the latter having its sides extending laterally beyond the plunger ll. Spreader bars 26, '25 are slidably disposed in the transverse opening 25 of the casing, said bars having finger uprights 21, 21' projecting upwardly out of the casing and in the axial plane of the plunger H. The base portions 28, 28" of the spreader bars have recessed portions 29, 29 to receive the head 29 of the plunger.

Spring means 30, 3t engage the bars and casing to normally urge the bars together and into engagement with the head of the plunger. Vertical reciprocation of the plunger H projects the head thereof into the casing, moving the spreader bars 26, 26' apart against the tension of the spring means to stretch the bulb positioned thereon, as shown in Fig. 3. The top of the transverse opening 25 of the casing is closed by cover plate 34 fixed to the casing by suitable 5 means, as, for example, bolts 35. The base portions 28, 28 of the spreader bars 26, 28' are preferably provided with shoulder portions 36, 35 to engage stop portions 31, 31 of the casing. The springs 30; 30': are? preferably positionedtlo within longitudinal recesses 38, 38 in the casing, closed by threaded plugs 39, 39 or the like.

In operation, one bulb I3 is positioned over thepreferably tapered upper ends 40, 464. aIIdeORtO the finger uprights 21, 21', and held in axial registry with the plunger H by the standard l l which, in the form shown in Fig.1 oftthe drawings, may be secured at its lower end 'of the casing l5.

A supporting arm 4| is fixed at one end to the standardand;v extends therefrom: towardthe axial plane of the spreaderbbarse Springrplates 42, 43 are fixed to the arm-and project vfrom the sides thereof therebeyond to engageethe bulbwand hold it-against the supporting ,arrnw-and 1 upon ther spreaclersbarfingers. The-free end otthe'zarm 4 his preferably of such outline thatxit-will engage and steady the bulb. Thefreeends 45, 46 ofthespring zplates 42, 4'3 are"preferablypconformedito the crossusectionrofrtherbulb (Fig. 29. Standard 30 l bmay be secured to-apart of the apparatus ior machine in connectionwith whichvthe inventionisr'usediothen than thatsho-wn in :Fig, 1. In the: form. shown .in Fig,, 3 the ,standard is indicated to-be:a part |6'-integral-with.-or secured to am otherxpart of the apparatus; or. machine inicontnection withhwhich the. invention is used.

Having. thus :describ'ed) my. invention, what I claim has new and desire to secure by r Letters Patent is:

1.. .Awbulbrstretching,,machine; comprising 1 an elongated.Itube, .having,an. axiale aperture therethrough, a plungerisli'dably disposed in saidtapentare, the 7, lower end of; the 1 plunger adaptedto project .from'the lower end of the. tube for Yen-t 4535; gagement by reciprocating means; a1 rounded headn-atcth'e. upper endofltheplunger adapted to be projected beyond the upper end of the tube on reciprocation of the plunger, a casing secured to the upper end of the tube and having sides extending laterally therebeyond, spreader bars having base portions slidably disposed in said casing and having finger uprights disposed upwardly and outwardly of the casing in the axial plane of said plunger to receive the bulb to be stretched, and means engagingthe bars and casing to normally. urge thexbarsz together and into engagement with the head of the plunger said base portions having complementary recessed portions so that, when said spreader bars are urgedz together, they will define a conically recessed portion to receive the plunger head, and will'""coop'eratewith the rounded head of the plunger when.- -the-latter is moved into engagement therewith, whereby, on vertical reciprocation of-the plunger to project the head thereof into the casing, said spreader bars will be moved apart against-stile tension ofisaird spring:means; to stretclrth'e bu'lb positioned ithereonzi.

2." In 'a bulb+stretching:machine;as set forth in' z. clainrzl, a standard fixed ;tosaid-teasing, .a'ssup.=- porting -.:arm zfixed :atrone end-:fto' saideistandard and extending toward the axialsuplane=ofssaid spreader-bars, andspringplates fixed toztheisides of v said: arms and1projectingqtherebeyonduto: err-1 gage: the "bulb and hol'd zit againsttthez supporting arm; and on the *sprea'derubanfingersa Irr: a bulb-stretching :machineeas zsetforthlz in claim 1, a standard fixed to said casing anr; arm fixed to sa-idstandardaand wextendizng there'- from toward the -axial' plane :of said tispreader outlinev'as to engageeandfsteady the bulb; an'df. spring means; on" said armvito holda the 'blflbff against tsaid-zfree-rend:underrtensiona ReferencesCited"in the,tfile-- o;f -sthis-:patent UNITED ISTATEsf-PATENTS Number Name Date.

202 ,63 1 Challinor; Apr;' 23'). 1878" 631,582 Rudolph Aug;'.22,";1899" 741,823 Packer Oct." 20', 1903 

